The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice,
by Philip Jenkins
The author, an Episcopalian, is worried about the unfairness and injustice
of the anti-Catholicism that is rampant in America now; "it is virtually the
only major institution with which such liberties are permitted." He clearly
shows how "Catholics and Catholicism are at the receiving end of a great
deal of startling vituperation in contemporary America, although generally,
those responsible never think of themselves as bigots.." "Almost as
troubling as the sheer abundance of anti-Catholic rhetoric is the failure to
acknowledge it as a serious social problem. In the media, Catholicism is
regarded as a perfectly legitimate target". He describes the history of
anti-Catholicism in America and the forms it takes today, dealing with the
current major and popular myths about Catholicism, and says "Demon figures
are simply useful, if not essential." And he concludes "Anti-Catholic
sentiment may simply be too deeply entrenched to eliminate in a decade or a
lifetime, but this does not mean that it should simply be ignored. The
greatest single achievement might be to acknowledge its existence and to
treat is as a form of prejudice quite as pernicious as any other." An
absorbing and disturbing book.
-Nancy
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